I tried out for the part of Marley’s Ghost, but as usual, I never get the part I really want. But I did think of Fezziwig when I first thought about auditioning, so I suppose my first idea was the best one.

Mrs. Fezziwig will be played by Carlyn Postle, a friend who has directed me in several plays.

A Christmas Carol is being directed by Jim Russell. I’ve only worked with one other director besides Carlyn since I’ve started acting at Carrollwood. I’ve worked with a few others while I was lighting shows. It will be interesting to observe someone else rally the troops, plus I’m in training myself, because I hope to do some directing. I’ll need the skills for my production company, after all.

On a side note: It’s 50 days until my 50th birthday! Here is my Wish List – you know, just in case you were thinking about getting me a little something.

The 30 Days of Music Challenge is over. Here is a summary of the songs I picked.

Day 01 – My Favorite Song: Bad Romance by Lady Gaga
Day 02 – My Least Favorite Song: Humpback by T.J. Renolds
Day 03 – A Song That Makes Me Happy: Doki Doki Love Mail by Aya Matsuura
Day 04 – A Song That Makes Me Sad: Drive by The Cars
Day 05 – A Song That Reminds Me of Someone: Magic by Pilot
Day 06 – A Song That Meminds Me of Some Place: I Have Dreamed by Rogers and Hammerstein
Day 07 – A Song That Reminds Me of a Certain Event: Hands Across America by Marc Blatte and John Carney
Day 08 – A Song That I Know All the Words To: I Have a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts by Fred Heatherton
Day 09 – A Song That I Can Dance To: Love Machine by Morning Musume
Day 10 – A Song That Makes Me Fall Asleep: Brahms’ Lullaby
Day 11 – A Song From My Favorite Band: Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds by The Beatles
Day 12 – A Song From a Band I Hate: A Touch of Evil by Judas Priest
Day 13 – A Song That is a Guilty Pleasure: School Days by Guardians 4
Day 14 – Beautiful Girls by Shawn Kingston
Day 15 – A Song That Describes Me: Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood by Santa Esmeralda
Day 16 – A Song That I Used to Love But Now Hate: God Bless America by Kate Smith
Day 17 – A Song That I Often Hear on the Radio: How Can I Be Sure by The Rascals
Day 18 – A Song that I Wish I Heard on the Radio: Driving My Life Away by Eddie Rabbit
Day 19 – A Song From My Favorite Album: Puff, the Magic Dragon by Peter, Paul, and Mary
Day 20 – A Song That I Listen to Shen I’m Angry: War by Edwin Starr
Day 21 – A Song That I Listen to When I’m Happy: Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves
Day 22 – A Song That I Listen to When I’m Sad: Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles
Day 23 – A Song That I Want to Play at My Wedding: Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now – Starship
Day 24 – A Song That I Want Played at My Funeral: I Did It My Way by Frank Sinatra
Day 25 – A Song That Makes Me Laugh: Otto Titsling – Bette Midler
Day 26 – A Song That I Can Play on an Instrument: Heart and Soul
Day 27 – A Song That I Wish I Could Play: Bandstand Boogie
Day 28 – A Song That Makes Me Feel Guilty: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Day 29 – A Song From My Childhood: I Points to Myself
Day 30 – My Favorite Song at This Time Last Year: 3-2-1 Breakin’ Out!

I hope you enjoyed reading about the music in my life.

In trying to select a song for today, I had to go back and think about what was happening this time last year. As you know, if you know me or have read this blog, I’ve been into JPop the past couple of years. So, it’s a JPop song from my favorite Japanese Idol group, everyone… Morning Musume!

During the July 4th weekend of last year, Morning Musume made their first trip to the continental United States. They were featured guests at the Anime Expo in Los Angeles. Their new song, “3, 2, 1, Breakin’ Out” was the theme song for the convention. They even held a contest on MySpace inviting people to create their own music video for the song.

Therefore, I’m choosing “3, 2, 1, Breakin’ Out” for today’s song.

I am going to try from now on to explore more music genres. I should eally not be so obsessed with the Hello! Project and Morning Musume, but I can’t help it. And I don’t really seem to get into any other groups as much, so there must be something about them.

Tomorrow, I’ll post a summary of the songs I’ve chosen in the last 30 day.

Now that the challenge has ended, I’ve decided to try to keep this momentum going and will be posting more frequently on my blog.

Please leave comments. I have no idea what you think about my writing unless you comment. Should I be writing less about myself and more about a specific topic? Let me know.

Today’s song is “I Points to Myself,” which my mother taught me and my brother and sister when we were little kids. My mom learned it in the Girl Scouts. It was sung with a German accent, which today would probably be considered not very politically correct. I couldn’t find a good version of it on the Internet, but I’ll keep looking.

Honorable mention goes to “Strangers in the Night” as sung by Frank Sinatra. This is the first song I remember hearing on the radio, and I know that it was a favorite of my father.

I didn’t know what song I was going to choose today, but as I write this, I remember something I did years ago and I do feel guilty about it. Coincidentally, it does involves music. It isn’t about one particular song, but it has to do with a Christmas performance.

I am not going into detail about the incident. I hurt someone’s feelings because I was being selfish, when I should have been praising the person for a job well done.

Since this was a religious event (this has nothing to do with me being an atheist), I’ll choose a Christmas carol.

Today’s song is “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” Again, it isn’t really the song that makes me feel guilty. It was the thing I did at an event in the past which involved Christmas music. I don’t think about it every time I hear this song. And it’s a good thing, since I’m currently writing a Christmas play based on the song.

I always wanted to be a musician. But there seems to be something inside of me that just can’t get beyond the basics. This is a problem for me in everything. I seem to get so far then can’t go further.

I understand that this is in some ways a learned habit, but there are physical and mental issues at work here also. I believe that the same things that cause me to misunderstand speech and limit my ability to hear individual sounds in loud areas play a part.

However, I do take responsibility for my lack of persistence in learning to play an instrument. I hope that once I do begin making money, I can devote the time it would take to really learn music.

To fulfill today’s challenge, though, I do have to name a song, so I’ll go with something fun. “Bandstand Boogie” is an interesting song and I believe would be a challenge for me on the piano.

This will change, of course. As soon as I have created my Internet web empire in a year or two, I’ll return to music. I’ll need to become reacquainted with the keyboard and other instruments as I become an entertainment world mogul producing shows and writing hundreds of popular songs.

For now, if I happen to find a piano and a partner, I’ll play that old standard duet, Heart and Soul. Many people do not know that the song has lyrics. The Cleftones recorded a pretty cool version in 1961.

Okay, I’ll learn some other I-vi-VI-V songs and perhaps bang out some other melodies on the piano for a while still I get seriously back into music. In the meantime, I’ll strum some chords on the old guitar.

This is a song that tells the (fictional) story of the invention of breast support for women and the stealing of the patent.

Need I say more?

It’s hardly original, but I think I would like to have Frank Sinatra‘s “My Way” played at my funeral. After all, as a hermit, recluse, shy guy, or whatever you choose to call me, I haven’t followed the crowd.

I’ve always been different than most of the people around me. I was not your common Fairmounter growing up. I went into Theatre, which no one around me had any interest in. I don’t work a normal job. I could go on and on.

The thing is… I couldn’t be any other way. I follow my own path, and I’d be very unhappy trying to fit in with everyone else. Actually, I have been unhappy trying to live a life that is expected of me. It has taken a long time for me to learn this, but I am finally getting the idea.

Anyway, should I go soon, I really wouldn’t want a funeral or service or anything at this point. I don’t think I’ve had enough of a life to merit it. I’d want to be cremated anyway, since I have no family of my own to visit a grave in the future. And I believe that once you’re dead, it doesn’t matter anyway. What will I care.

Of course, I realize that these things are more for the people left behind, so should these wishes not come to pass, I guess I’ll just have to live with it. HA!

One of the songs I want played at my wedding is “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” by Starship. I’ve liked this song from the very first time I heard it in the movie Mannequin.

I’ve planned to have this played at my wedding ceremony for almost 20 years now. Yes, I know! A man planning his wedding! You have to remember, I am in show business, and part of that is event planning.

Another song I would like to hear that day is “Almost Paradise” – the love theme from Footloose – written by Eric Carmen. I would mention more, but I don’t want to give the whole thing away.

Now, if only I could find a bride.